Expenses - bit dodgy this one but its not me

[JRCT]

3 days a brown envelope will be on your mat advising that you're being investigated.

That's ok. I don't have anything to hide. I'll let you know what happens.

[borderreiver]

Are you a Thai hooker? If not, no.

If so maybe that overnight stay in a hotel might just be tax deductible ..

[psychocandy]

That's ok. I don't have anything to hide. I'll let you know what happens.

Nor me but I think the general consensus is that HMRC are a PITA to deal with and you dont really want them sniffing around if yo can help it.

[JRCT]

Mr HMRC is ace.

I just had a call back from HMRC on this. Very good start as, yesterday, they said it would be within 3 days.

I was completely honest with him about this. I explained that I claim mileage for my c70 mile round trip each day, whether I get the train or not. I told him that I'd worked out over the year that the difference was £2.16 per day. I also explained that my motivation was to just make this easy for myself rather than financial gain. I also said there were plenty of things that I don't claim for, which I could.

He said that this was not a problem. They're not interested in people who are trying to do the right thing and that even in an investigation if I said I drove every day, they couldn't prove otherwise. As long as the journey was wholly and exlusively for business (which it is) he's happy. He was also happy that even if I was up £2.16 a day, then they're not interested in that kind of number and he's fully aware that there's always other stuff that I could add in that would counterbalance this.

So, all you that are worried about Mr H, don't be. He's lovely.

[SpontaneousOrder]

So, all you that are worried about Mr H, don't be. He's lovely.

He also suffers from multiple personality disorder.

[psychocandy]

I just had a call back from HMRC on this. Very good start as, yesterday, they said it would be within 3 days.

I was completely honest with him about this. I explained that I claim mileage for my c70 mile round trip each day, whether I get the train or not. I told him that I'd worked out over the year that the difference was £2.16 per day. I also explained that my motivation was to just make this easy for myself rather than financial gain. I also said there were plenty of things that I don't claim for, which I could.

He said that this was not a problem. They're not interested in people who are trying to do the right thing and that even in an investigation if I said I drove every day, they couldn't prove otherwise. As long as the journey was wholly and exlusively for business (which it is) he's happy. He was also happy that even if I was up £2.16 a day, then they're not interested in that kind of number and he's fully aware that there's always other stuff that I could add in that would counterbalance this.

So, all you that are worried about Mr H, don't be. He's lovely.

Interesting that they admit they cant prove it either way. As suspected they werent intested. Still not sure if I would have phoned them though.

Like I said, its impossible to prove whether you get the train or drive. As long as you can prove you travelled from A to B then nothing is ever going to happen IMHO. Surely HMRC have got enough trouble catching people who claim for totally made up journeys (if they even bother with this as well) to bother with people who change the mode of transport....

[LisaContractorUmbrella]

I just had a call back from HMRC on this. Very good start as, yesterday, they said it would be within 3 days.

I was completely honest with him about this. I explained that I claim mileage for my c70 mile round trip each day, whether I get the train or not. I told him that I'd worked out over the year that the difference was £2.16 per day. I also explained that my motivation was to just make this easy for myself rather than financial gain. I also said there were plenty of things that I don't claim for, which I could.

He said that this was not a problem. They're not interested in people who are trying to do the right thing and that even in an investigation if I said I drove every day, they couldn't prove otherwise. As long as the journey was wholly and exlusively for business (which it is) he's happy. He was also happy that even if I was up £2.16 a day, then they're not interested in that kind of number and he's fully aware that there's always other stuff that I could add in that would counterbalance this.

So, all you that are worried about Mr H, don't be. He's lovely.

The only thing I would say to you is to get it in writing; it's not unheard of to get 2 different opinions from 2 different people at HMRC on the same day - if you have written confirmation you will be covered

[NickNick]

Interesting that they admit they cant prove it either way. As suspected they werent intested. Still not sure if I would have phoned them though.

Like I said, its impossible to prove whether you get the train or drive. As long as you can prove you travelled from A to B then nothing is ever going to happen IMHO. Surely HMRC have got enough trouble catching people who claim for totally made up journeys (if they even bother with this as well) to bother with people who change the mode of transport....

Not impossible to prove train travel in the slightest. A friend ended up in court years ago and as part of the process they produced video evidence that the did indeed get on the train on certain days.
All it takes is for HMRC to have the suspicion that it happened and request the cctv footage.

Whether any of this would happen in (what appears to be) a relatively small matter is another matter.

[psychocandy]

Not impossible to prove train travel in the slightest. A friend ended up in court years ago and as part of the process they produced video evidence that the did indeed get on the train on certain days.
All it takes is for HMRC to have the suspicion that it happened and request the cctv footage.

Whether any of this would happen in (what appears to be) a relatively small matter is another matter.

Ha ha. Didnt think of that.

Bet it wasnt easy to get hold of CCTV footage though.

Remember someone claimed whiplash injuries when I reversed out of space in tesco express and nicked their door (50p size dent). 3mph tops and woman was fine (until she got home and husband could see nice little earner). Wasnt bothered about the damages to her car - it was my fault but someone claiming £5K for nothing did wind me up a bit.

Tescos wouldnt release the CCTV footage and my insurer werent interested in pushing it. So she got £5K personal injury for nothing.

[JRCT]

They will ask for petrol/diesel reciepts to cover the milage, this will be followed by questions about what car you drove over that period and the milage when you bought and sold the car. 2,000 miles a month will produce some evidence in terms of car costs and wear and tear.

The .45p a mile is an allowance against your private use of a car, this doesn't remove the requirement to prove your costs.

I think this will be easier to pickup by HMRC than your "friend" thinks.

This is clearly a very grey area, but one thing that is absolute - you do not have to provide petrol/ diesel receipts. That is a fact.